Photographic flash lighting apparatus



Feb. 28, 1950 R. C. BECK PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH LIGHTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. '7, 19 .8

bhhbbbb! INVENTOR: Pam's-er C! 556/6 5? g a I A TTOR/VEY Feb. 28, 1950 R. c. BECK 2,498,640

PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH LIGHTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR: Passer 6! Bear A 7' TORNE) Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPH! FLASH LIGHTING APPARATU 8 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic flash lighting equipment and more especially to apparatus for energizin and discharging gaseous discharge lamps used in connection with photography.

Gaseous discharge lamps have been used for some time in the lighting of a photographic subject, but the energizing and discharging apparatus and circuits for such lamps have been unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. Among these reasons are the relatively high voltages which are essential to the operation of such lamps, requiring the circuit apparatus such as transformers, rectifiers, connectors and wiring to be of a character to withstand such voltages. Furthermore, the apparatus has been relatively inefficient because of the low capacity attainable in the various energy storage condensers which have customarily been used.

The present invention has been developed around the use of electrolytic condensers which are known to be more eflicient than paper or oil condensers, electrolytic condensers not having been used heretofore because it has been impractical to use them at sufiiciently high voltages in conventional series-parallel circuits if there are any slight difierences in the characteristics of the individual condensers. My present invention overcomes these objections and limitations by energizing the electrolytic condensers in in dividual units and applying their combined potentials only at the instant of firing or discharge by means of a simple relay, which relay is also used to control the delay or synchronization of the lamp flash with the shutter of the camera associated with it.

It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide novel means including apparatus and a circuit for energizing a plurality of electrolytic condensers and discharging such condensers through a gaseous type photographic discharge lamp.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide energizing and discharge means for photographic lamps capable of operating at a discharge voltage of the order of 1800 volts but having a charging circuit no component of which is subjected to more than 450 volts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel photographic flash apparatus employing 2 electrolytic condensers which have an inherent series resistance, whereby the discharge rate is slower than with other types of condensers so that improved photographic eifects on the fihr. are obtainable.

An additional object of the invention is to provide photographic flash apparatus as set forth in the preceding objects which is lighter in weight, less costly and more eiiicient than apparatus now known and used for the stated purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for energizing anddischarging a plurality of electrolytic condensers for photographic flash lamps wherein the apparatus may be powered from a low voltage circuit, such as a battery, or a conventional source of alternating current, such as the volt circuits which are generally available.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus and a circuit therefor embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing modifled circuit means for the apparatus substantially as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing modified energizing means for the circuits shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a further modified form of energizing means; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing another modified form of energizing means for the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Fig. 1, I show a pair of electrolytic condensers l0 and II preferably having a nominal rating of 450 volts, and a pair of similar condensers l3 and H. A gaseous discharge lamp 15 such as one adapted to be operated at substantially 1800 volts, may be connected to the condensers I, H, 13, and H by a relay l6 having a pair of gang-operated switch arms H and Condensers Ill and II are series connected and condenser I0 is connected to a wire or conductor 23 and condenser II connected to a conductor 2|, which may be ground connected as shown. Wire 20 is connected to one of the contact terminals of relay switch arm I8, the other contact thereof being connected by Wire 26a to one of the terminals of a receptacle 32 to be more fully described hereinafter, the plug 33 of such receptacle having a wire 28b connected to one of the terminals of lamp I5. Wire 2| is similarly connected to the receptacle 32 and the plug 33 has a terminal connected to a wire 2Ib which is connected to the other terminal of lamp I5 and suitably ground connected as shown to the lamp housing or otherwise.

Switch arm I8 is directly connected by a wire 22 to condenser I3 which is series connected to condenser I4, the latter being connected by a wire 23 to switch arm I1, one contact terminal of which is connected to wire and the other connected to wire 2 I. The energizing coil of relay I6 has one end thereof connected to ground 'wire 2| and the other end connected by a wire 24 to receptacle 32. The corresponding terminal of the plug 33 is preferably connected by wire 24a to a conventional flash igniting battery case such as is found on many cameras and having a switch 25, a battery 26, and a suitable plug and receptacle 21 and 28, respectively, the latter being pro vided so that the battery and switch unit may be removed or replaced as necessary or desired. Battery 26 may be enclosed in a metallic casing 2|c which is connected to wire 2 lb when plug 21 is engaged with receptacle 28.

A resistor 30 is connected in the conductor 20 between condenser I6 and the contact terminal of switch arm I8 as shown, and a resistor 3|, which may be a carbon resistor having a value of substantially .5 to .6 of a megohm, is connected between the wire 28a and the wire 2| for discharging a condenser 34 hereinafter described. Receptacle 32, previously mentioned, may be any type of conventional multi-conductor receptacle and plug 33 may be a 3 or 4 wire plug to be associated therewith, wires 20a, 2| and 24 of the receptacle being connected to wires 26b, 2Ib, and 24a, respectively, of the plug when connected thereto.

The firing or discharge circuit of lamp I5 preferably includes a condenser 34 which may be a ,001 to .25 microfarad paper condenser connected to wire 20b and in series with a coil 35 connected to wire 2| b. Coil 35 is the primary of a transformer having a secondary 36, one of whose terminals is connected to the common connection of condenser 34 and coil 35, and the other terminal is connected to the electrode or coil 38 comprising the triggering element of lamp I5. Coil 35 preferably comprises 20 to 30 turns of #26 wire, space wound, and coil 36 is preferably a 1% inch close wound coil of #38 to #44 enameled wire.

The power supply for the circuit may comprise a transformer 40 having a center tapped primary 4| whose end terminals are connected by wires 42 and 43 to the low voltage terminals of a vibrator 44 of a typ well known in the art. A wire 45 including a switch 46 connects the center tap of primary 4| to one terminal of a battery 41 such as a 4-volt dry or storage battery whose other terminal is connected by a wire 48 to the low voltage reed of the vibrator 44. Wires 45 and 48 may be bridged to a pair ofterminals of receptacle 32 and a 2-conductor plug 50 may be associated therewith and connected to a suitable battery is a storage battery. Plug 56 may be a G-cgnductor plug, only two of its terminals being use Transformer 4!! has a secondary 52 whose nominal output voltage is approximately 3'70 volts and which is connected by a wire 53 to the high voltage reed of vibrator 44 and by a wire 54 to the common connection of condensers I0 and II. A buffer condenser 55 and series resistor 55a are preferably connected across the secondary 52 to correct any variations in the wave form, of the alternating current supplied by the secondary 52.

A pair of series connected resistors 56 and 51 are connected to wires 22 and 23 and serve as a voltage dividing network for supplying the necessary voltage to a neon lamp 58 connected across resistor 51 to indicate the charge on condensers I3 and I4 for determining if the charge is suiiicient to fire or discharge lamp I5.

Operation of Fig. 1

The operation of the invention as shown in Fig. 1 is as follows:

Upon the closing of switch 46, transformer 40 is energized from battery 4! and the rectified secondary current charges condensers I8 and II individually with a series of unidirectional current surges whose peak potential is approximately 450 volts. It will be obvious that when the condensers are sufficiently charged, the potential betweenwires 20 and 2| will be double that of either of the condensers, or approximately 900 volts. Relay switch arms I! and I8 are spring biased to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the charging of condensers I6 and II will also charge condensers I3 and I4 which are now connected in parallel with condensers I0 and II. Resistor 30 serves to limit the fiow of current in condensers I3 and I4 whenever a difference of poten-- tial exists between these condensers and the pair of condensers I0 and II. The neon lamp 58 will indicate when the condensers have attained their proper charge and show when the apparatus is in condition for discharge through lamp I5. When this condition has been reached, switch 25 may be closed to connect battery 26 to relay I6 whereupon switch arms I1 and I8 are moved to the left to contact position with wires 28 and 20a, respectively, thus connecting condensers I0, II, I3 and I4 in series and in series with lamp I5 to fire or discharge the same, the triggering circuit, including condenser 34, coils 35 and 36, being simultaneously energized by the discharge current from the combined condensers and insuring the ionization and discharge of the lamp. After the discharge of lamp I5, resistor 3| will serve to dissipate the energy from condenser 34.

Description of Figs. 2-5

In Fig. 2, I show a modified circuit for utilizing the battery 4! for actuating the relay I6. In this figure I show a lamp 60, substantially similar to lamp I5, connected to a similar firing circuit including wires 20b and 2Ib which are connected to a plug 6| adapted to be connected to receptacle 32. Plug 6| has a wire 24b connected to a plug 62 adapted to be associated with a receptacle 63 mounted on a camera having a shutter switch charging device 5| for charging battery 41 if the 64. Plug 6| has a wire 48a connected to plug 62, and a wire 45a connected to wire 2| b, wires 45a and 48a being connected to wires 45 and 48, respectively, when plug 6I is connected to receptacle 32. The operation of this circuit should be obvious. After the charging of the condensers I 0, I I, I 3 and I4 and the closing of shutter switch 64, relay IE will be energized by the completion of a circuit from battery 41, through conductors l8 and 48a, switch 64, conductors 24 and 24b to the actuating coil of the relay, and then from the latter, through conductors 2|, Zlb, 45a, and 45 to the other terminal of the battery.

In Fig. 3, I show a modified means for charging the condensers. In this figure I show condensers l0 and H connected to wires '20 and 2| as in Fig.

I. A transformer 65 has a primary winding 66 with a control switch 61, and a secondary winding 68 having one terminal connected to the common connector of a pair of half wave rectifier-s 68 and HI and the other terminal connected by a surge resistor II to the common connection of condensers l0 and II. Rectifiers 69 and I0 are connected to wires 20 and 2|, respectively, as shown and may be of any desired type such as selenium cells. The circuit of Fig. 3 is a voltage doubler circuit, the direct current voltage supplied to wires 20 and 2| being twice that of the secondary winding 88 of the transformer.

In Fig. 4, I Show another modified form of condenser charging means. In this figure a transformer 12 has its secondary winding 13 connected through a half wave rectifier H to wires 20 and 2| for charging condensers l0 and II with a half wave rectified current. The secondary voltage of winding 13 will, however, be the voltage that is applied to the two condensers in series.

In Fig. 5, I show still other means for charging condensers l0 and II connected to wires 20 and 2|. In this figure the circuit includes a plug 15 for connection to a conventional 110 volt alternating current circuit, and a plurality of half wave rectifiers 16, such as selenium stacks, are connected with a plurality of condensers 'll as shown. This circuit and its operation is shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,072,278, issued March 2, 1937 to Schade, and in and of itself forms no part of my present invention except as it may be used and combined with other features and devices. The circuit shown will provide an output having a nominal rating of approximately 770 volts, providing a peak voltage of approximately 900 volts to which latter value the condensers l0 and II will be charged. This circuit eliminates transformers and reduces to zero the warm-up time which may be necessary if filament type rectifers are used.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, whichis not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

I claim:

1. Photo flash apparatus as described comprising in combination: a first pair of series connected condensers; a second pair of series connected condensers; a discharge circuit; relay means for selectively connecting said pairs of condensers in parallel for charging, or connecting said condensers in series for discharge into said discharge circuit; and means for separately charging the individual condensers of said first pair, said last means including a source of alternating current and a half-wave rectifier for each of the condensers of said first pair, said source of alternating current including a battery, a transformer and a vibrator for the primary circuit of said transformer.

2. Photo flash apparatus as described comprising in combination: a first pair of series connected condensers; a second pair of series connected condensers; a discharge circuit; relay means for selectively connecting said pairs of condensers in parallel for charging while eflectively disconnected from said discharge circuit, or connecting said pairs of condensers in series and to said discharge circuit for discharge therethrough; and means for charging the condensers of said first pair, said last means including a source of alternating current, a voltage multiplier and a half-wave rectifier for the condensers of said first pair.

3. Photo flash apparatus as described which includes: a first pair of series connected electrolytic condensers; a second pair of series connected electrolytic condensers; a resistor; a pair 01' output terminals; relay means normally connecting said second pair of condensers in series with said resistor and the series circuit thus formed in parallel with said first pair of condensers, said relay acting, when energized, to connect said first and second pairs of condensers in series and to said pair of output terminals; and charging means connected to said first pair of condensers to charge the latter and said second pair of condensers when said relay is de-energized.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 in which said charging means includes a pair of half-wave rectifiers each separately connected to a corresponding one of said first pair of condensers, whereby said condensers of said first pair are separatelyv charged on opposite halves of a cycle of alternating current.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 3 in which said charging means includes a voltage multiplier intended for connection to a source of alternating current, and operable to provide at least half -wave rectified current.

6. Photo flash apparatus which includes: a first pair of series connected condensers; a second pair of series connected condensers; a pair of output terminals; relay means normally connecting said first and second pairs of condensers in parallel for charging and operable to connect said pairs of condensers in series and to said pair of output terminals; and means for separately charging the individual condensers of said first pair of series connected condensers.

7. Photo flash apparatus which includes: a first pair of series connected condensers; a second pair of series connected condensers; a pair of normally de-energized output terminals; relay means normally connecting said first and second pairs of condensers in parallel for charging while said condensers are eifectively disconnected from said pair of output terminals, said relay means being operable to connect said pairs of condensers in series and simultaneously connect said series connected condensers to said pair of output terminals; and means for separately charging the individual condensers of said first pair of series' connected condensers, the charge thus received by said first pair of condensers being used in the charging of said second pair of condensers.

8. Photo flash apparatus which includes: a first pair of series connected condensers; a second pair of series connected condensers; a pair of normally de-energized output terminals; a relay selectively operable to establish either a first or second condition; means .connecting said first and second pairs of condensers in parallel, through said relay, when said relay is in said first condition, said pairs of condensers being efiectively disconnected from said pair of output terminals,

and to connect said first and second pairs of condensers in series through said relay when said relay is in said second condition; other means connecting said first and second pairs of condensers to said pair of output terminal when said relay is in said second condition; and means connected to said first pair of series connected condensers for charging the latter.

ROBERT C. BECK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name mte Dubllier July 14, 1936 Horsley 1 Jan. 31, 1939 Keeler May 23, 1944 Edgerton Sept. 26, 1944 Klemperer Aug. 28, 1945 Slack et a1 May 20, 1947 Abend et a1 Aug. 24, 1948 

